Cameron 'fed up' with Qatada in UK

David Cameron has said he is "fed up" that Abu Qatada is still in the country, as the smiling terror suspect returned home following his release from jail.

PUBLISHED: 14:42, Tue, Nov 13, 2012

Terror suspect Abu Qatada arrives at his London home after leaving prison following his victory in t [PA]

Qatada was greeted by a crowd of protesters as he arrived home in London following his release from high security prison HMP Long Lartin in Worcestershire.

The radical cleric appeared to smile as he was driven away from jail, and again when he arrived home, after winning the latest round in his battle against deportation.

On a visit to Italy, the Prime Minister said: "I am completely fed up with the fact that this man is still at large in our country. He has no right to be there, we believe he is a threat to our country. We have moved heaven and earth to try to comply with every single dot and comma of every single convention to get him out of our country. It is extremely frustrating and I share the British people's frustration with the situation we find ourselves in."

His comments were echoed by a group of protesters who gathered outside Qatada's house, holding a "Get rid of Abu Qatada" banner and shouting "Get him out!"

Qatada, once described as Osama bin Laden's right-hand man in Europe, was released after judges approved his appeal against deportation to Jordan to stand trial. His bail conditions include a 16-hour curfew, from 4pm to 8am, as well as wearing an electronic tag, not using the internet, and not contacting certain people.

On Monday, the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) ruled that despite assurances from the Arab kingdom, it could not be sure that evidence from witnesses who had been tortured would not be included in a retrial in his homeland. Qatada was convicted of terror charges in Jordan in his absence in 1999.

Home Secretary Theresa May, who travelled to Jordan earlier this year in a bid to pave the way for Qatada's deportation, has vowed that the Government will continue to fight to "get rid" of him and said the Home Office will appeal against Siac's decision.

Meanwhile, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper called for ministers to travel to Jordan straight away for discussions. She said Qatada was currently subject to bail conditions but added: "If the Government's appeal fails at the next stage then we'll be reliant on counter-terror powers to make sure that the public are protected.

"Those counter-terror powers have been weakened by Theresa May. I think she needs to look again at that very urgently so we can be sure people will be protected from somebody who the courts themselves have said is a very dangerous man."